Sins of the Forefathers: A LitRPG Fantasy Isekai

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

The world of Vereden was broken long ago.

The introduction of the System came at a time of warring Gods and shattered planets, only for it to shatter as well. That which was meant to raise men to divinity, instead cast them ever deeper into conflict through its imperfect nature. And yet, that era of ceaseless war is long past. The people have adapted to Statuses, Levels, and Skills.

Unfortunately, so have the Kingdoms.

Millenia past the Initialization Wars, Nathan Hart finds himself suddenly stranded in an unfamiliar forest, in an unfamiliar country, on an unfamiliar planet. Captured and sold as a slave nearly from the moment of his arrival, Nathan is told he is a ‘Precursor’. Granted odd and unusual powers, Nathan is meant to stride as a titan among men, for a mysterious purpose. However, how can he ever make his mark on this strange new world, with a collar around his neck?

He would have to escape, first.

……………………………………...

Consider this story my own personal twist on what appears to be an Isekai, with light LitRPG elements. I say light, because I don’t want you to expect pinpoint accurate stats for everything that exists in universe. After all, this is a setting where the local System isn’t so much as broken, as never whole.

Sins of the Forefathers updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Update time is between 8:00-9:00 AM CDT.

As of 12/20/24, the first volume of Sins of the Forefathers, Chained Awakening, has been stubbed for an Amazon launch.

As of 7/11/25, the second volume of Sins of the Forefathers, The Thrallbreaker Design, has been stubbed for an Amazon launch.

You can find the links to both below if you're interested in starting from the beginning!

VOLUME 1

VOLUME 2

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2023
Author: PreCursive (J.D. Campbell)

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
Followers: 3,068
Views: 1,451,853

Chapters(374 total)

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(10)

Wolfgang HuxRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Do you like fantasy? System? Intrigue? This has it all.
I really really enjoyed the introductory chapters of this book and very excited to see where it goes. If you are wondering as you read when you are going to have answers to your questions dont worry all will be revealed in time!
STYLE: The author writes crisp clean prose that keeps me engaged as I read and pulls me through the story. I'm impressed!
GRAMMAR: No issues here at all. I think there are a few places where the same word is overused but this is not a grammar issue and it is something that we all weed out eventually in higher level edits.
STORY: BOOM! Super intriguing. Vibrant world with all sorts of races. We already see a lot of different scenes and locations just a short ways into the story and I know we will see a lot more. I think truly the mystery of things and the depth that I can see building below the surface will carry this story well.
CHARACTER: Our MC is, thus far, a bit of a mystery to us in terms of their personality and background but I think this makes sense because we are basically seeing him thrown into the deep end real quick. A lot of potentially interesting side characters have cropped out, and minor characters as well. And of course the mentor figure who emerges near where I'm writing this review.
So my verdict? Check this out! It's a great story, well told and its got tons of untapped potential that will, I'm sure, be used in the coming chapters!
Bon voyage!
S1qwemRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
It’s well written overall. Pacing is ok, story doesn’t get bogged down. I know I write more criticism than about what’s good about the story, but it’s an entertaining read and you should at least try it despite my criticisms.
The litrpg part is a little odd in that it actively hurts the novel, stuff like the individual stats could be cut out entirely, as well as the numerical concept of levels, and I think the story might be better for it? It’s rather odd but honestly the writing style and the abilities and powers shown so far almost work better without the precise level concept, especially when you have the main character on the same battlefields as the mentor characters.
In addition, the average power level of the world isn’t really defined, I have no idea how strong the average person is supposed to be. This really stands out because the current story arc is a war, and I just can’t reconcile the descriptions of the power of the established older mentor style characters with how these guys are fighting a war alongside cannon fodder.
Also, the non numerical parts of the litrpg aspect work pretty well, it’s just when things come down to numbers that they start to fall apart. Remove the numbers entirely, add a new way to introduce the skills, but the idea of the system being broken, the classes/professions, the skills, even the power tiers, those are all good. Just the level and stat numbers don’t work.
However, if you ignore the holes that the litrpg system and power levels bring, it’s…good? Maybe that’s why the litrpg stuff sticks out to me. Definitely an entertaining read for sure. You should try it, even though I think it’s flawed I still enjoyed it, so 5 stars it is.
S.nufflesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Did not expect my mans to be sold into slavery in the first few chapters.
Style: is good. It's got a strong focus on what's happening rather than what's surrounding it. It's a strong direction and I can respect that. I do find a little issue with some awkward wording and run on sentences, but overall they did not affect my experience too much. Good job!
Grammar: was strong. No issues here. Nothing that broke my immersion and it's well polished.
Story: is pretty unique. A lot of stories start of with dark beginnings, but this man is dropped straight into the slave trade. It's grim and I like the direction it's taken to separate itself from other Isekai out there. It's definitely classical fantasy with dwarves and elves, so people comfortable with that mythos will feel right at home. A lot of elements of the story definitely hint to greater ambitions more reminiscent of fleshed out world, rather than one that exists only for the character, which is a good sign for things to come.
Character: is alright so far. The main reason I take half a star off is because not much is known about the main character, and especially since this is first person this is made harder. But, I can see elements of his character developing as the story becomes more magical, and I trust the author to flourish their MC into someone great.
Overall: stay away truck-kun
BardLyreRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This piece starts pretty brutally and blasts onwards in much the same vein. It is very much a genre piece, but one that has some lovely development on the more familiar tropes.
Style & Grammar: Generally, this is written very nicely. The style blasts along at quite a pace and ensures that the audience is fully engaged. I read through these chapters in one sitting as I wanted to see how things would develop. Grammarwise is fine. Clearly, lots of proofreading has taken place here and there was nothing especially wrong to pull me out of my enjoyment.
Story: Without wishing to give too many spoilers, we have the classic 'man pulled into a new world' trope, but this guy is immediately sold to brutal slavers. Obviously, he has the ability to engage with the System, but I have enjoyed that he is not immediately proficient and expert in its use. There's a sense of, dare I saw, realism here rather than some of the more childish fantasy fulfilment that you tend to come across in these sorts of stories. Certainly, I'm looking forward to seeing where it develops.
Character: it's first person narration, which is interesting as it means we have more insight into the MC than we often get access to. Likewise, it's enjoyable to see how his perception of other characters - particularly in the early stages where he cannot understand what they are saying - alters the way he tries to engage with them.
Overall: Certainly worth your time reading. Enjoyable and fluent story telling.
Jack0fheartRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
'Sins of the Forefathers' is a captivating and immersive story that takes readers on a journey through a bewildering and dangerous new reality. In the world of Vereden, shaped by warring Gods and the rise of the System, Nathan Hart is abruptly transported to an unknown land, enslaved and labelled a 'Precursor' due to his newfound powers.
Overall Score 5/5: This is an enthralling story that keeps readers hooked from the very beginning. The suspenseful plot, well-developed characters, and intricate world-building combine to create a truly remarkable reading experience.
Style Score 5/5: The writing style is both vivid and engaging. The pacing of the story is well-managed, allowing for the gradual unveiling of mysteries and the building of tension. This writing style draws readers into the story, making them feel as if they're right alongside the protagonist, Nathan Hart.
Story Score 5/5: The story is a roller coaster of emotions and intrigue. The initial confusion and shock that Nathan experiences upon arriving in a new world are palpable. The plot is layered with compelling political schemes, power struggles, and mysterious abilities.
Grammar Score 5/5: The grammar is impeccable, allowing the narrative to flow smoothly and without any distractions.
Character Score 5/5: The characters are multi-dimensional and realistic, each with their own motivations and complexities. Nathan's confusion, fear, and determination are vividly portrayed. Grey and Azarus are equally intriguing characters, with their own mysteries and roles in the unfolding events. The interactions between characters feel authentic and contribute to the development of the story.
In conclusion, 'Sins of the Forefathers' is a standout fantasy story that excels in every aspect. With its gripping plot, well-crafted writing style, impeccable grammar, and compelling characters, it's a must-read for fans of the genre. I highly recommend this to fans of litRPG and isekai! ♥
MysteriousJDRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Hart has crafted enough suspense to make me fear for the safety of the characters. The main character had a difficult start compared to many isekai protagonists.
Style Score: Through vivid descriptions and the character's observations, the first few chapters create a sense of danger and mystery. Readers can get a sense of a character's personality and language through the first-person narration.
Grammar Score: So far, the grammar is great! The only issue I faced was having to double-check some sentences to ensure I read them correctly. I also encountered one word that was most likely misspelled. Other than that, no problems with the grammar.
Story Score: This narrative has the potential to be a grim-dark, though I may be mistaken and find myself surprised. Based on the synopsis, it's likely that the main character will strive to escape from slavery, resulting in an early major conflict. I'm curious about the different paths this story could take.
Character Score: I have no definite opinion of the character so I'll need a couple of more chapters to gauge how I feel about him. As of now, I detect a snarky and comical side to him.
Overall, the beginning grips you, leaving you curious about what's to come. The situation begs the question of what kind of agreement elves and dwarves have made to have humans as slaves. In my opinion, the story has a lot of potential that is worth exploring.
Briar MossRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
First off the world building is good and interesting. The slow trickle of some information builds interest and some reveals are even more interesting.
I want to like this story, but the it'd be better with a perspective where the author can focus on the world building they seem to be invested in.
The thin pretense of plot, mc characterization, and progression are dismantled by the mc being irrelevant to the story. mc's every decision is made by gandalf and hephaestus who to be fair are actual characters.
MC, uh, did well at being a drama kid, thus solving all questions of intrigue? That's pretty much the only thing they've done for themselves. That and uh, not die when they were perfectly safe. Oh and when he finally fights for once, it's all foreshadowed to be too convenient, probably fate from some god or god corpse system.
The first arc is all about getting the 7 crafting classes. Does he do a single thing with them before he gets the combined cheat class? Nah. Apparently stares at the wall for days in-between fetch quests, presumably while gandalf the uses the very profession feet away.
But as we see, it's because the combined cheat class would have made such efforts pointless, so author never bothered having the mc do anything at all they aren't told to.
Arc 2, etheric bugaloo
Eh.
MC finally crafts things. That he's told to craft. Uuuuugh.
When mc finally gets around to sneaking into the plantation and being forced to kill the Most Dangerous dwarf Hunter while trying to commit war crimes. War crimes mostly to free rebel gandalf so he can go commit more war crimes leading to mc assassinating his friend and feeling real bad about it.
Sad.
jumpsplat120Royal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Man gets isekai'd, man gets sold into slavery, you've heard it all before. We follow our protagonist as the world slowly opens up before them, and... yeah, it's interesting enough. The politics kept us reading, and we were excited to see how the MC would break an unbreakable slavery bond. But as the fic went on, it started to feel more and more like the MC was... secondary? The world seemed interesting, but for all the big names he knew, he actually doesn't really feel all that important. His strength is middling and he never really goes out of his way to power grind, and he gets swept up in stuff behind him constantly. And when he finally has the chance to take agency (all the way in book six) we realized we sort of don't care all that much. The LitRPG aspects aren't all that interesting, and the MC has no desire to try to progress (in the progression fiction) and... I guess once the roster got shaken up a bit, I realized I didn't really want the story to follow him?
Funnily enough, I find all the other characters much more interesting than Nathan. The world building is neat. Having magic and cultivation and a system as three different sets of power is cool. Nathan is... a dude.
There are a lot of very cool, very dramatic and fun and sad things that happen in the story so overall, I guess we're recommending it, but man I kinda wish Sylvia was the MC instead 😅
ActualTeemoMainRoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
I like the world building and the execution of the magic/power system. These 2 points are what separates this title from most other titles on this platform.
However, I think this title has fallen into the trap that so many other titles on this platform falls into which is that the scope of the story has gotten too big before establishing the main points of the actual story.
I mean, I don’t even know who the MC is outside of being a snippy kid lost in another world let alone care why he should grow as a character so why should I care about a civil war in a location that isn’t even introduced yet? Perpetrated by characters only tangentially mentioned?
I am not a fan of padding out a story but this title needs to introduce characters and ideas outside of expositions because as it is the only thing interesting about it is the setting and not much else. There is just too much information dangled at the reader off the start of the story that isn’t immediately relevant to the plot that it feels like the author is too excited to tell the reader about this great world they’ve envisioned but can’t figure out how to work it into the narrative.
CommenatorerRoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
Salacious review title aside and full credit to the author, they were upfront about this fiction containing slavery and what the main characters first chapters would look like.
To further ameliorate my negative opinion of this work and putting aside the ethics of slavery as a whole -- i'm not a fan of slavery as a mechanic in story telling because in my experience it is an excuse to have a bland character go through awful treatment to build their character while giving them and the reader no real choice or imaginative room about it.
Now onto the works contents itself;
The main character is a bit of a leaf in a wind tunnel with his choices heavily controlled from the outset by circumstance and language barriers. However even with these things effectively corralling his thinking there are several instances where he could/should have at least tried to free himself (regardless of the later learned potential consequences) that makes the reader wonder if this is more of a carnival ride on closed mental loop rails rather than an exercise in world building and character development.
Throughout the first couple of chapters we as the readers are shown a series of scenes and characters which again feel more like plywood setpeices in a highschool play then an immersive tale of fantasy and discovery.
Further adding to the overly artificial feeling that continues to build is that when the MC finally gets to have a coherent conversation with a person, through yet more corralled non-choices, they get kit gloved, info dumped and presented with more non-choices.
All in all i found the 11 chapters i managed to wade through less then edifying and got the strong impression that even when the character does manage to earn his freedom, it will not be true freedom at all and more of a psycho-social/political cage to continue to try and give him an actual personality.
In a strange juxtaposition to my above qualms and complaints, the writing and grammar are well constructed and clearly unde